Opening the Door of Love

Born in 1850, Robert Louis Stevenson was a Scottish author best known for novels such as the historical adventure Treasure Island and the gothic horror Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Despite his lifelong battle with chronic respiratory illnesses, Stevenson produced a remarkable body of work that still resonates today.

In his poem "A Christmas Prayer," Stevenson invites us to remember the birth of Jesus and the ways we should be living because of that birth. The Advent season is about the importance of love and kindness, Stevenson reminds us, and we should be striving day by day to embody these qualities in our interactions with others:

Loving Father,

Help us remember the birth of Jesus,

that we may share in the song of the angels,

the gladness of the shepherds,

and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate

and open the door of love all over the world.

Let kindness come with every gift

and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing

which Christ brings,

and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning

make us happy to be thy children,

and Christmas evening bring us to our beds

with grateful thoughts,

forgiving and forgiven,

for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

Stevenson's health struggles had a profound impact on his writing, shaping both its themes and his creative processes. He was frequently confined to bed and forced to seek out milder climates for relief, and his themes of isolation, mortality, and resilience are evidence of these times. Stevenson spent his later years in Samoa, where he was deeply connected to the local culture and earned the name Tusitala, which means "Teller of Tales." He even had a hand in inventing an early version of the sleeping bag when he described a "sleeping sack" in his travel book Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes.

Stevenson described himself as living "like a weevil in a biscuit" during his bouts of illness, but ultimately his health challenges proved to be both a burden and an inspiration as he sought to transcend his limitations. As you read "A Christmas Prayer," consider how Stevenson's words can inspire you, too, to live out the spirit of Christmas -- embracing love, compassion, and gratitude as you anticipate the joy of Christmas morning.